Hello, readers. Another week has passed. I didn't mean for this to become a once a week thing, and I hope to get more updates in this week, but as for now I'll go with what I've got.
Really nothing out of the ordinary happened last week. Work, school, hanging out. Friday night was a blast :) I spent Saturday and Sunday just relaxing, and it was good. I haven't been this happy in about 3 years.
I seek to drink deep of God's Word, knowing full well that I might drown. In fact, I desire to drown in it. I've been going through Psalms every morning, and oddly enough we've been going through some Psalms at church on Sundays too. We talked about Psalm 22, and there's a lot of similarities between that and Christ's crucifixion. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34). Psalm 22:16-18 talks about evildoers surrounding him (David), piercing his hands and feet, gloating over him, and casting lots for his clothing. Direct parallels are seen in Christ's crucifixion. The gospel writers wanted to make that parallel abundantly clear, not really as a prophecy, but as a way to intimate the similarities. Psalm 23 is a go-to AWANA passage about God being the Good Shepherd and the Good Host. "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want..." even non-believers know that. It's like John 3:16, we take it for granted. Still, I love Psalm 23:5 "He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies." I picture that as being alone on a battlefield with a host of enemies in front of me, yet I sit at a table and feast while angels rip through them and God fights for me. Either that or my enemies are prisoners in His presence and they are forced to watch me feast in peace. "His rod and His staff comfort me" Well, yay for sticks :) "He restores my soul". I need restoration daily because I screw up daily. "My cup overflows". God will provide my needs (Philippians 4:19). Psalm 24 is similar to Psalm 15. "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place?" (Psalm 24:3). That reminds me of Psalm 15:1. David answers both questions in both chapters. God is the King of Glory. Psalm 25 sees David asking for help to follow God. I cannot, on my own, do what God wants. He literally has to drag me down the path. That's a lot of work for Him, and yet He loves me! David gives himself to God in 25:1-2; he asks God to teach him in 4-5; he asks God not to hold his past sins against him in 6-7. Indeed, that is my prayer too! Psalm 25:10 goes along with Romans 8:28. David asks for help in his loneliness in 16-18. I need help in my alone times because I only have myself to please. I need to focus on Him. I'm so glad I'm not on a "holy points" system. It's not like I can redeem tickets for prizes at Chuck-E-Cheese. I can't come to God with enough holy points to get a wife, or a job, or a nice car, etc. Either He'll give them to me or He won't. I just have to use what He has already given me responsibly so that He can trust me with more. David uses his own righteousness to ask God to protect him in Psalm 26. As I said, I can't redeem holy points, and my 'righteousness' is like filthy rags to God, yet He loves me. He accepts my application that I scribbled on in Crayon with tearful eyes and puts it on His refrigerator. He is proud of me. Why? Only He knows. If I were living in the Old Testament, I would be running out of animals to sacrifice. God does not care about animal blood, He cares about repentance! I see a tendency in today's Christian society to atone for our own sins. If I say the right prayer, or do a penance, or something else, I can square my account with God. Like I could ever be equal with Him! I owe Him my life! I declared war on Him, and He redeemed me. I can never be square with Him! Psalm 27 shows David's confidence in God's protection. God has made His protection known in my life, and I pray He doesn't stop! Psalm 28:7 shows another shield reference :) Psalm 29:2 says "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness." Just...Do...It! He is the only One who is worthy. Psalm 30:5 says that even though sorrows may last for the night, joy comes in the morning. That's been true in my life. I've had a night I didn't think I'd wake up from, and even though happiness didn't come with the morning, the joy of knowing that God is still on His throne did come, and it comforted me. I was still shattered inside, but I had God. Sin will eat me alive if I don't confess it. Psalm 33 is rich. "Sing to Him a new song" (33:3). Nothing is new to God LoL. Still, singing to Him is awesome. Psalm 33:20 is another shield reference :)
On Sunday we talked about Psalm 21, and since I am on Psalm 34, it was refreshing to go back and take another look. We worship God because He is faithful and just. We do not worship Him only when we perceive Him being faithful and just to our benefit. We worship Him because He is faithful and just all the time. He is unchanging. His love is steadfast. Sin will be punished. Hell is a place where sin will be punished and imprisoned so that it will no longer be a threat to those who believe. "The blessing of Hell"...chew on that one :) God promises that He will take care of His own. I am one of His own. Not because I'm special, but because He forgave me. You can be one of His too, dear reader. He's waiting for you to answer His call. This is deadly serious. I worship Him because He is mighty. I worship Him because He is steadfast in His love. His Word sustains me. He is Faithful and He is Just. He will discipline me for my sins, and that correction will lead to growth. Because of His Son, His wrath is no longer on me. His wrath will pour out against all unrepentant sin, however. It is coming. He will come back in His glory, and nothing will stand in His path. Revelation 19. Ultimately, I worship God because He is King.
Well, dear reader, some good things are happening in my life. I'd appreciate some prayer for protection and growth. I have a current awesome situation, and I cannot wait to see how it develops. I have to take it one day at a time. I commit each step I take to God. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul :) Until next time, dear reader.
For the Kingdom
-Stuart
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